Originally posted on Facebook on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Today I was reading the passage in Acts where Peter encounters the beggar outside the temple. What struck me was that Peter looks at the man, sees his need, and begins with, “Silver and gold I do not have…” Then he said, “but what I have I give you…”
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Peter doesn’t stop with religious words or posture. He lifts him. Peter engages the man in a tangible, experiential way.
Acts 3:7
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
It formed a picture for me of how we are meant to engage: not merely through religious gestures or declarations (thoughts and prayers), but by meeting need with what we have, in the name of Jesus, and then lifting—putting material effort behind what we say we believe. The question this leaves me with is simple: when we pray, or do any other religious thing, do we lift?
Peter then responds to the people who witness this miracle by directing their focus to Christ.
Acts 3:12
So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
He names Jesus as the Prince of Life and is careful not to embezzle any of the glory. It made me wonder whether this is why God honored the gesture, why power was given in the moment, not to elevate Peter, but to affirm Christ.
Acts 3:15–16
and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know; yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
That phrase, “perfect soundness”, followed by the title of the Prince of Life, connected something for me. Ministering life is about making whole. This is certainly what Christ does for me, and to have faith in Him is to have faith that lifts.
#FaithThatLifts #PerfectOurLove